SB-739
Social Services

Disaster CalFresh: county resources: status.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires counties to create disaster plans and form mutual aid regions to ensure food assistance during emergencies.
  • Mandates state maintenance of updated disaster materials and applications in all required languages.
  • Establishes procedures for counties to request emergency food benefits during federally declared disasters.
  • Provides counties with free mobile technology to issue emergency benefit cards in disaster-affected areas.

Summary

Senator Arreguín's proposal to modify California's Disaster CalFresh program focuses on enhancing county-level disaster preparedness and response capabilities for food assistance distribution during emergencies. The legislation requires county human services agencies to submit annual disaster plans that establish mutual aid regions with neighboring counties to ensure adequate resources for benefit access during disasters.

The measure outlines specific responsibilities for the State Department of Social Services, including maintaining current Disaster CalFresh materials in all required languages and providing counties with technology for mobile electronic benefit transfer card issuance. When a presidential major disaster declaration occurs, the department and affected counties must request to operate a federal Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including waivers for automatic benefit replacement and hot prepared food purchases at authorized retailers.

The bill adds a requirement for the department to assess each CalFresh-serving facility's capacity to maintain services in impacted areas during disasters. This new mandate on counties to provide facility status information qualifies as a state-mandated local program, making affected jurisdictions eligible for state reimbursement of associated costs if determined necessary by the Commission on State Mandates.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Human Services
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Human Services
Hearing scheduled for , State Capitol, Room 437
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Special Consent SB739 Arreguín
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Human Services Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Human Services Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Alex LeeD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Bill EssayliR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Leticia CastilloR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Alex LeeD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Bill EssayliR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Leticia CastilloR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Celeste RodriguezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jesse ArreguinD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Jesse Arreguin
Jesse ArreguinD
California State Senator
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

Latest Voting History

May 29, 2025
PASS
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
380240PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires counties to create disaster plans and form mutual aid regions to ensure food assistance during emergencies.
  • Mandates state maintenance of updated disaster materials and applications in all required languages.
  • Establishes procedures for counties to request emergency food benefits during federally declared disasters.
  • Provides counties with free mobile technology to issue emergency benefit cards in disaster-affected areas.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Jesse Arreguin
Jesse ArreguinD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Arreguín's proposal to modify California's Disaster CalFresh program focuses on enhancing county-level disaster preparedness and response capabilities for food assistance distribution during emergencies. The legislation requires county human services agencies to submit annual disaster plans that establish mutual aid regions with neighboring counties to ensure adequate resources for benefit access during disasters.

The measure outlines specific responsibilities for the State Department of Social Services, including maintaining current Disaster CalFresh materials in all required languages and providing counties with technology for mobile electronic benefit transfer card issuance. When a presidential major disaster declaration occurs, the department and affected counties must request to operate a federal Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including waivers for automatic benefit replacement and hot prepared food purchases at authorized retailers.

The bill adds a requirement for the department to assess each CalFresh-serving facility's capacity to maintain services in impacted areas during disasters. This new mandate on counties to provide facility status information qualifies as a state-mandated local program, making affected jurisdictions eligible for state reimbursement of associated costs if determined necessary by the Commission on State Mandates.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (5/29/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Human Services
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Human Services
Hearing scheduled for , State Capitol, Room 437
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Special Consent SB739 Arreguín
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Human Services Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Human Services Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

May 29, 2025
PASS
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
380240PASS

Contacts

Profile
Alex LeeD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Bill EssayliR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Leticia CastilloR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Alex LeeD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Bill EssayliR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Leticia CastilloR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Celeste RodriguezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jesse ArreguinD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member